Tryon Little Theater presents "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"

Friday

Jul 19, 2013 at 5:00 AM

By KATIE CASTEEL For Halifax Media Group

This season's summer youth production put on by the Tryon Little Theater is pretty sweet. The group is performing "Willy Wonka," a stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," with featured songs from the film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."Audiences can join Charlie, played by 10-year-old Cash McFarlane, through a journey in Willy Wonka's modernized chocolate factory.Director Jenna Tomisiea strives to have audiences leaving with the same feelings of wonder and amazement that people felt after viewing the original film when it was released during the 1970s. The characters wear contemporary clothing, and Willy Wonka's factory is updated to look more advanced. Willy Wonka himself is tech savvy as he walks around the factory with his iPad. Tomisiea described the production as high-tech, imaginative and even funky. She explained that even with the modern twist, she is careful to stay true to the intent of the original story with the morals of the importance of imagination and the good, honest heart that lies within Charlie. This is Tomisiea's second year working with a Tryon Little Theater youth production. Last year she directed "Seussical," a musical production based on the classic stories of Dr. Seuss. Tij D'oyen, a recent graduate from Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, plays the character of Willy Wonka. D'oyen has been in many TLT productions including "Seussical," "Pippin" and "Picasso at the Lapin Agile." "When preparing for this role and discussing the character with my director," D'oyen explained, e_SDLqwe both made it quite clear that we didn't want me to simply copy the Gene Wilder or the Johnny Depp Wonka."

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